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A Hare Krishna in the Stock Market

By Ananda Vrindavana Dasa (As told to Vraja Bihari Dasa)

I was born in December 1962 to a well-to-do Gujarati family in Mumbai. I was the only son and was pampered with comforts and servants who attended to my beck and call. My wealthy businessman father was deeply religious; two of India’s most popular gurus were the spiritual guides of our family. Each of them had millions of followers, and more than a hundred thousand people attended the public lecture programs of these influential spiritual leaders. Since my father was close to them, our family was happy to serve them and their followers. As a child, I was an object of their affection, and due to a spiritual atmosphere at home, I was attracted to hearing and chanting Krishna’s holy names and pastimes. I also excelled in my studies. In 1981 I stood first among 300,000 students appearing for the sales-management exam conducted by the London Chamber of Commerce. The Bombay Chamber of Commerce honored me for being the first Indian in a hundred years and the youngest in the world-as a nineteen-year-old-to bag this prestigious gold medal. After securing seven post-graduate management degrees by 1985, I was all set to take over my father’s business. Meanwhile, as my own stock-market career flourished, I underwent an unforgettable experience.

The Spark Becomes a Flame

In 1989 my M.B.A classmate and friend Dilip Upponi took me to an ISKCON temple in South Mumbai to hear a discourse by His Holiness Radhanatha Swami, who described Vrindavana and Krishna’s pastimes in great detail. His class fanned the spark of attraction for Krishna I already had in my heart. I became irresistibly attracted to Radhanatha Swami and began to attend more of his classes. Dilip then gave me books written by Srila Prabhupada, the guru of Radhanatha Swami and the founder of ISKCON. The combination of Radhanatha Swami’s lectures and Srila Prabhupada’s books had a mesmerizing effect on me. I was stunned to read in Srila Prabhupada’s books that the highest expression of religion is when a devotee approaches God without any desire except to serve and please Him. I was fascinated by Srila Prabhupada’s explanation of pure devotional service, where a devotee aspires to be free from the selfish desires of seeking name, fame, prestige, or position in the material world. Instead, a devotee of Krishna, Srila Prabhupada explained, only wants to satisfy Krishna’s senses. This profound depth of Krishna consciousness attracted my heart like nothing I had heard or read before. I was also attached to my father’s two gurus and wondered if I was being disloyal to them by coming to ISKCON. My heart pulled me closer to Srila Prabhupada and his sincere followers, who were teaching essentially the same things my parents and family gurus had been teaching. Yet I found Srila Prabhupada and Radhanatha Swami urging me to take my devotional service a step higher-to offer my whole existence to God without expecting anything in return. Meanwhile I saw my friend Dilip move into the temple as a full-time resident devotee (an ashram member). The Krishna conscious wisdom, the simple and austere lifestyle of Dilip and his colleagues at the ashram, and the loving dealings and relationships that Radhanatha Swami shared with all devotees won my heart. Deciding to commit to the path of Krishna consciousness, I took spiritual initiation from Radhanatha Swami and received the name Ananda Vrindavana Dasa, while my friend Dilip became Devamrita Dasa. However, my innocent hopes of living a happy life centered on Krishna and devotees was soon to be challenged.

Family Relationships Strained

Since Radhanatha Swami was born in America, my conservative, orthodox father was outraged at my decision to accept initiation from someone who wasn’t born in India and was from another race. My father claimed the organization I was connecting to was dubious. He wanted me to take initiation from one of his gurus. Although I was now officially connected to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON, I still had deep love for both our family gurus, and I assured my father I would continue to serve them. But he insisted I reject the American guru and accept an Indian guru. My frantic attempts to pacify my family failed, and even my friends and relatives were deeply anguished at my decision. While everyone protested and discouraged me from attending ISKCON programs, I became firmer in my resolve to pursue my inner calling. My father had trained me to pursue a pious life, but with mounting pressure I sensed him becoming distanced from me. I could feel his pain, but I felt helpless. Our relationship became strained. During this time I was working as a research analyst with Capital Market,India’s leading finance magazine. My father thought my prestigious job and my pride in my own abilities were making me rebellious. He tried convincing my employer that I had been brainwashed and was associating with a dangerous cult. My father hoped that if my company would threaten or fire me, I might buckle under pressure and revert to the family ways. My employer, being highly appreciative of my professional expertise, assured my father that I was all right and had become an invaluable asset to the company. Exasperated, my father issued an ultimatum: If I didn’t give up associating with ISKCON, I would be deprived of our family fortune. In my youthful frenzy, I responded to the threat by claiming I didn’t want any of his wealth.

Leaving the Comforts of Family

Although I was doing well in my job, I was young and had no experience of staying alone without servants attending to me. I sensed that if my father were to kick me out of our home, my life would be difficult. But I was determined to pursue Krishna consciousness. My father was unrelenting, and I didn’t budge either. One evening, after yet another confrontation, I left home and angrily vowed never to return. I sought to one day prove to him that I could amass a lot of wealth on my own. The devotees at Mumbai ISKCON encouraged me to stay at the temple rather than live alone. As I daily commuted from the temple to the office, I began to find the lifestyle at the ISKCON ashram tough. The living conditions were meager and austere. Accustomed to living with plenty of comforts, I struggled. Meanwhile, my friend Devamrita Dasa, who had relinquished a flourishing career as a manager with a multinational bank, was dedicating himself to the cause of Krishna consciousness as a full-time ISKCON member. One day he asked me to withdraw his life’s savings from the bank. I brought him the huge sum of money, and right in front of me he put all of it in the temple donation box. I was shocked to see him give away all of his wealth to the temple and prefer to live as a poor monk. I was from a business family, and although I had seen many religious people, I had never before seen someone so materially qualified give up his wealth and fortune for the service of God. I sensed my relationship with him was now changing. He was no longer just a friend; rather, he now became my spiritual mentor and guide, and I trusted his character. A new surge of determination flooded my heart, and I increased my commitment to pursue Krishna consciousness. The love and care I received from the devotees at the temple, the power of pure Krishna conscious philosophy, and the joy I felt in hearing and chanting Krishna’s names helped me take the bold steps to leave home.

Stock-market Complications

The Krishna consciousness philosophy convinced me that the stock market is beset with anxiety borne out of gambling. I vowed never to gamble in stocks. I invested only in safe long-term securities and bonds. In my last twenty-five years in the stock market, I never once did short-term or daily trading, lest I get implicated in the complexities of this volatile market. At Capital Market my professional skill as a research analyst and an advisor on stock market fluctuations helped many clients become millionaires, while my company earned a handsome brokerage. I took no money out of the profits my company or clients earned from risky short-term investments, for this was against my principle and vow that I had taken of “no gambling.” After my stint with Capital Market, I worked for eighteen years as a partner with J.G. Shah & Co, a brokerage firm ranked fifth in the Bombay Stock Exchange. Despite being a partner in the firm, by the Lord’s grace not once did I succumb to any gambling-like transaction.

The Greed for Money

I bought a small house in the suburbs of Mumbai, and Radhanatha Swami arranged for me to marry a devout girl from the temple congregation. As my father had removed my name from the family inheritance, I felt a need to earn more money. A friend and former business partner of mine proposed a scheme that would make us millionaires overnight. The offer had legal discrepancies, however, and could lead to complications later. My friend dismissed my apprehension and assured me it was a foolproof plan. With our combined financial know-how we could take this enterprise to new heights. The temptation was difficult to resist; I could now prove to my father that I could be wealthier than he was, and didn’t need any of his goodwill or inheritance. I also thought I could use my increased wealth to serve Krishna and His devotees. The temple needed funds. I was all set to join the business, but first I needed to ask my friend Devamrita Dasa. He patiently heard my story but didn’t share my enthusiasm. “Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead,” he said, “and He will provide whatever we need. We don’t need illegal money. That won’t be pleasing to Krishna.” I was caught in the sea of confusion. On the one hand, the wave of my partner’s attractive offer pulled me. I could make it big and once and for all silence all my critics, including my father. On the other hand, a devotee of Krishna was asking me to refrain. After weeks of being tossed by conflicting thoughts and feelings, I finally made the painful decision: I withdrew from the plan. My partner expressed shock at my “foolishness.” But I was now firm in my choice to live by the wisdom of Krishna’s devotees. A year later my erstwhile partner invited me to a business conference in a leading five-star hotel. By now he was a multi-millionaire and a business star, adored by the media. As cameras flashed and reporters interviewed him, I stood in a corner and watched his quick ascension to the hall of fame and success. At the end of the conference he called me over and rebuked me. “You fool,” he said. “You could have had this success. It’s still not too late. My invitation is on. Trust me, I’m your friend. With your intelligence, you could be twice as wealthy as me.” I heard him patiently but wasn’t tempted. I was now deeply attached to devotees and the Krishna conscious way of life. My earnings were sufficient to keep our family content. My wife, Tulasi Devi Dasi, and son, Raghunath, supported my Krishna conscious values and spiritual practices and abhorred the greed-impelled pursuit of wealth. I left the meeting unruffled, yet disappointed at my inability to convince my friend to abandon his dangerous ways. A few days later, yet another reality hit me. The headlines of all the national newspapers and television channels carried the story of one of the three biggest financial scams India had ever witnessed. My former friend was exposed in a fifty-billion-rupee fraud, and his photograph flashed all over. He was now in jail, condemned by the media, government, and police, and charged with over a hundred serious financial crimes. As I followed the news carefully, I realized how Krishna consciousness and the association of devotees had saved me. Had it not been for my devotee friend Devamrita Dasa, I too would be languishing in prison today. Krishna had saved me by sending me His loving devotees as my friends and saviors.

Learning the Lessons of Life

Over the last two decades of practicing Krishna consciousness and seeing the swinging fortunes of the volatile financial markets, I have learned valuable lessons in spiritual life. Strong hearing and chanting have sustained me over the last two decades. I have vowed to never enter the stock market without first completing my sixteen rounds of chanting Hare Krishna on my prayer beads. I also first hear one spiritual lecture on my iPod or at the temple, and only then do I enter my business arena. These practices have given me the strength from within to resist temptations and make the right decisions. Another lesson I’ve learned is the value of the association of saintly devotees. I have observed that devotees in the renounced order are blissful even without having money. In stark contrast, I saw people in the stock market earning up to 200,000 rupees daily, yet they were miserable and needed to take sleeping pills. This convinced me that money is not the source of happiness. This realization also helped me say no to the tempting offers of some business entrepreneurs who wanted to share fifty per cent of their profits with me if I would offer them advice on daily stock trading. They even assured me they would bear any losses, while I only needed to offer my intuitive stock-market sense to help them. I’ve rejected these offers because they are open gambling and injurious to my spiritual health.

Present Services

I presently own an investment company that helps people manage their portfolios by investing in secure mutual funds and government bonds. Recently our firm won the first prize among ten thousand firms in Mumbai for excellence in managing hybrid funds, a category of mutual funds. The Wealth Forum, which monitors mutual funds in western India, conferred upon me the runner-up title for Financial Advisor of the Year. As a service to the growing temple congregation, a few of us have also started a small bank, Yamuna Kinara. Our team of financially astute devotees offers other devotees a better interest rate on their deposits than the market rates. And on loans taken from the bank, we charge a lesser rate than the prevailing market rates. These lower interest loans are given primarily to financially challenged devotees from the community, and the bank’s exclusive motive is to serve the Vaishnavas. My spiritual master gave us the vision that sincere practicing devotees shouldn’t have to face difficulty in their Krishna conscious practice due to financial or other worldly problems. Over the last four years this nonprofit service has given me immense satisfaction. I am using my skills in the service of Krishna and His devotees. I also haven’t forgotten the childhood affection of my family. I daily remember and offer prayers and thanks to my father and his gurus. They showed me the path of devotional service. I am forever indebted to my friend Devamrita Dasa, who has now taken the vows of sannyasa, or lifelong celibacy, and is known as Bhakti Rasamrita Swami. My realizations can be summed up in one sentence: Life is a struggle, but it is a happy struggle if we can remember Krishna and be attached to hearing and chanting His holy names in the association of His loving devotees.

33 Comments

  • Shraddha
    Posted November 28, 2014 at 7:06 am

    Three times Hari Bol!
    HG Ananda Vrindavana Prabhuji’s Humble demeanor has always been very inspiring! And now the article adds on more to it!
    Hope I will be able to bring in practice his realizations (which for me are teachings) which he has summed up in one sentence!
    Thank you so much for sharing Prabhuji!
    Beg your prayers & blessings.
    YAS- Shraddha.

  • Vrajalila
    Posted November 28, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Hare Krishna , I truly appreciated reading this beautifully written article. My faith in Krsna Consciousness and Krsna’s devotees was nourished by every sentence of this article. By the mercy of HH Bhakti-Tirtha Maharaja I am blessed to have the guidance and love of HH Radhanath Swami and the devoted and dedicated devotees in Chowpatty. Thank you very much. Vrajalila mataji

  • vraja bihari dasa
    Posted November 29, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    hari bol!! thanks to you both for your encouraging words. i feel inspired to meet more devotees and hear their stories and write about them. all glories to all vaishnavas!!….hare krishna

  • Kalpit Nagrecha
    Posted January 2, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Very inspiring article. Thank you very much.

  • Jagdish Yadav
    Posted March 9, 2015 at 3:50 am

    Very Inspiring. _/\_ Through this article, Ananda Vrindavan Prabhu has taught so many lessons, which seems very small and are often neglected in life. We should always remain faithful, should always chant in any situdation. First and the foremost lesson, wealth can not give happiness, chanting Hare Krishna and dancing on Kirtan does. I am simple blessed to read this article. Thank you Vraja Bihari Prabhu . Your articles are life changing. Read a article, and try applying it in life henceforth. There is an absolute change seen. Thanks once again prabhujee. Your Aspiring Servant- Jagdish Yadav.

  • Vasudev
    Posted August 17, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Hare Krishna, Very inspiring article. and it cleared my long pending confusion.
    Quote “I vowed never to gamble in stocks. I invested only in safe long-term securities and bonds. In my last twenty-five years in the stock market, I never once did short-term or daily trading, lest I get implicated in the complexities of this volatile market.” Unquote.

  • Sneha Tetame
    Posted August 19, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    Hari Bol! Hari Bol! Hari Bol!
    Very encouraging and enlightening article.
    Surely helping all the readers.
    Thank you for sharing with all.
    Sneha Tetame

  • Udisha Trivedi
    Posted August 16, 2016 at 11:22 pm

    I’m just amazed to read about the life of devotees. They look ordinary but carry extra ordinary capabilities to deal with to greed and lamentation. Thank you so much for sharing your own story. I know it wouldn’t have been easy to make such choices but Krishna would be so pleased with your selfless service!

  • Nimai Charan
    Posted August 21, 2016 at 7:58 am

    Hari bol. Thanks for sharing this prabhuji. Inspiring story. May Krishna bless you and your family with eternal happiness and pure devotion.

  • Pawan Sahani
    Posted August 17, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    Hare Krishna Prabhu, I have met H.G Anandvrindavan Prabhu being a part of the borivali congregation, when I first met him he carried a good smile on his face and I thought that OK because everyone does like that in first meeting, but that smile gradually turned into love and affection,in other meetings, I always see him smiling and think what a lucky man he is, but after reading this story I got to know that behind that smile there was lot of hardships, which he has to faced at a very young age, and even after going all this situation he is still grateful to his Father, it requires a lot of courage and humility to be like AVP,he has led an example for others to follow,It is certainly that devotees quality association and chanting Hare Krishna is the highest wealth that one can get,truly touched by the story, Thank you Vrajbihari Prabhu for sharing this inspiring story.

  • Pravin Saiprakash Kottawar
    Posted February 23, 2018 at 9:52 pm

    Hare Krsna Prabhu ji Dandvat Pranam
    Please accept my humble obicences thank you for sharing such nice article.
    yas pravin

  • GOVIND GIRI
    Posted May 11, 2018 at 11:28 pm

    Hari bol prabhu ji मी खुप प्रभावित झालो हे लेख वाचून खूप प्रेरणादायी प्रवास केला आहे तुम्ही आणि ती सर्वाना उपयोगी पडते आहे खूप सुंदर हरी हरी your servant गोविंद गिरी

  • Tanuja
    Posted May 12, 2018 at 5:09 am

    Thanks for this wonderful article. If only people realized the true worth of their lives just like you did, this world would be a better place to live in.

  • Prakash
    Posted May 13, 2018 at 1:32 pm

    Thanks for sharing your experience ,It will defer definitely help me to progress to Krishna conciseness journey.

  • swati
    Posted June 11, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    Pamho parbhuji.Truly inspiring.Fortunately heard you live for the first time in Nigdi temple in last week. Thank you.
    YAS Shriji Devi Dasi

  • Phalguni chandra das
    Posted October 3, 2018 at 11:36 pm

    Hare krishna. I received too much inspiration. Very practical lessons. I want to meet & discuss Spiritual and Financial planning. Hare krishna. Dandawat pranam

  • KUMAR PRANJAL DIXIT
    Posted October 4, 2018 at 8:05 am

    Hare Krishna prabhu ji, HG Anand Vrindavan Prabhu has been a constant source of inspiration for me from the day I have started hearing his lectures. His realization is immense, his conviction is contagious and his lectures are strong which actually push us to pursue nothing less than pure devotional service. I feel, he is surely blessed by Krishna that he got very personal association of highly elevated Vaishnavas like HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj and HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj and his greatness is that he never lost an opportunity to follow in their footsteps. I wish and pray to be able to follow in his footsteps. Thank you Vraj Bihari prabhu ji for sharing his inspiring, instructive life story.

    • Meera Dd
      Posted August 10, 2019 at 7:39 pm

      Hare Krishna Prabuji,
      Is there any way I can get HG Anand Vrindavan Prubhu’s contact info. I will be greatly obliged.
      Your humble servant
      Meera davi dasi.

  • Subhashis Chakraborty
    Posted April 2, 2019 at 10:47 pm

    HariHari bol…thanks pravuji, your you tube lecture was too much for me .

  • Prasanna Solanke
    Posted June 30, 2019 at 12:39 pm

    Very very very inspiring!!!

  • Meera
    Posted August 10, 2019 at 7:27 pm

    Hare KrishnaH.G Anandvrindavan Prabhu
    Please accept my humble absences, all glories to shrila Prabupada,
    Prabuji can you please forward me your email and phone no. were I can contact you. I am in USA and just heard your Youtube about balancing spiritual and material life. I need some advice.
    I know you are extremely busy but if you could send me your contact info I will be greatly obliged.
    Your humble servant
    Meera dd

  • Shamba Majumder
    Posted November 8, 2019 at 11:34 pm

    No words is sufficient to describe this article. Thoroughly enjoyed and very inspirational.H.G Anand Vrindavan Prabhu ki Jay.

  • Dr. Mukesh
    Posted November 15, 2019 at 9:22 am

    Hare krishna Prabhu ji
    I want to manage my salary income for secure and better return for me and my family also
    I m 37 years old
    I have two children one 3 and second one is of 6 years old
    My salary income is 40000/- per month
    How can manage it for secure and better return with peaceful devotion.
    Thanks Prabhu in advance

  • Mohit jankar
    Posted January 3, 2020 at 8:58 am

    HG Anand vrindavan prabhuji ki jay . Very inspiring grahasta personality .

  • Uttama Damodar Dasa
    Posted May 11, 2020 at 2:39 pm

    HG Anand Vrindavdan Prabhu, Very inspiring and enthusiastic devotee. Ever ready to help others in the movement of Srila Prabhupada. Always gives solid spiritual advice while helping devotees plan their financial life. He is very practical in his approach.
    Thank you prabhu.
    Hare Krishna

  • Dheeraj
    Posted September 2, 2020 at 12:35 am

    Harekrishna pr,
    Your story is such an inspiration!!
    Thanks for sharing this pr. I understood the importance of resisting temptations!
    Haribol pr!

  • ANKIT ANAND
    Posted June 28, 2021 at 11:21 pm

    Hare Krishna, Thank you very much HG Anand Vrindavan Prabhu for inspiring us. Hari bol! Hari bol! Hari bol!

  • Radhe Shyam Kripa Das
    Posted July 13, 2021 at 11:04 am

    Prji Pamho, Can i know the name of your investment company? ys

    • Vraja Bihari Das Dubey
      Post Author
      Vraja Bihari Das
      Posted August 23, 2021 at 11:06 am

      You can contact Digvijay Prabhu for details: +91 9702033008

  • Dharamveer
    Posted January 10, 2022 at 2:45 am

    राम राम

  • Rohini suta baladev das
    Posted March 7, 2023 at 6:26 pm

    Hare Krishna Prabhu Ji
    a devotee’s life history is equal to purana.

  • Raja Singh Thakur
    Posted October 2, 2023 at 6:08 pm

    Hare Krsna Prabhu ji Dandwat Pranam!
    Thank You for sharing Your life which emphasized Devotee friend and the enthusiasm for taking Krsna consciousness over everything which is exhibited through exemplary example from Your life I can never forget.
    I was really stunned and superfluously joyful to know for the first time when I read, it was Dilip and ultimately later His Holiness Bhakti Rasaamrita Swami was Your spiritual friend, whose talks and divine discourses I heard to be so soothing and transforming that it touches directly the heart. Therefore it leaves no doubt that Supreme Lord & even Devotees both Name, quality, form, past time are qualitatively same.
    Please bless Your kind blessing upon Me so that I too can have atleast a part of rarest jewel of opportunity You have mercifully achieved it from Krsna.

    Your humble servant
    Raja

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